Acei cichlids?

Question

whats is the best profile for acei ? how to tell difference between male and female ? how big will they get?

Answer 1

Acei are a lovely fish of the mbuna family, from lake Malawi.

They reach a maximum size of about 4-5".

Acei are one of the mildest mbuna you can get, and pretty much non-territorial - quite remarkable and unique for a cichlid actually. This makes them an excellent choice for the aquarium, but a poor tankmate for most of the nastier types of mbuna. Their mild nature means it doesn't really matter which are male and which are female - they don't need to be kept in harems as most mbuna do.

The difference between genders is impossible to tell by eye. Once must get used to the fish and judge by behaviour, and naturally the females are the ones that end up 'holding' - that is, incubating the eggs in her mouth. The experienced could also tell by venting them, but this is quite stressful to the fish and not recommended unless absolutely necessary.

Acei is also as close to a schooling fish as mbuna get - they naturally group together and are best kept in numbers. They do exceptionally well in a species tank or with other mild mbuna like Lab. Caeruleus and I. Sprengerae.

Acei are omnivores technically, but most of their diet in the wild is algae. Likewise in the aquarium the best foods are spirulina based, and they love a treat of veggies like wilted spinach and leaf lettuce, pea's, or other edible green veggies.

I would venture to say that the minimum tank size for a small group of them is 30 gallons - anything smaller just inhibits their movements too much.

Although they are technically mbuna, which means 'rock dweller', you'll find these guys rarely use the hiding spots and prefer more open space in the tank then most mbuna do.

As they are algae grazers I always encourage plenty of algae growth on the rocks - it doesn't really do anything on a nutritional level, but it's nice to see them grazing, as it's just the type of natural behaviour we'd witness in the wild.

Answer 2

The first poster listed some sites regarding profile, and there are several others.

Pseudotropheus sp. acei get upwards of 5", though I have seen some that were 6". Males and females are very similar in appearance and the differences in gender are very subtle. Mature males will have pointed dorsal and anal fins (while those of sub-adult males and females are rounded).

If you're getting a group of them, gender doesn't really matter, they're generally not as aggressive as other mbuna.

Answer 3

I have a tank full of African Ciclids so I have no idea.

Answer 4

http://malawicichlids.com/mw09005e.htm

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1460